SWAB Barcelona 2024 kicks off

The 17th edition of Swab Barcelona emerges as an immersive journey through the freshest and emerging voices of global contemporary art, with a special focus on the East Asian creative scene. This edition, which begins today, October 3, and will last until Sunday, October 6, will transform the city into a platform for the exchange of ideas, where artists, collectors and the public will come together to explore the latest artistic trends. Although there are many exciting proposals and programs, we highlight some of the most interesting initiatives this year.

Focus Tokyo-Seoul: A connection between tradition and modernity

One program that stands out is Focus Tokyo-Seoul, which offers a fascinating dialogue between two key Asian cities in the contemporary art scene. This section brings together galleries that present a range of proposals that combine cultural tradition with future perspectives.

The ooooon (OhOn) gallery from Seoul, recognized for its constant search for new artistic formats and languages, comes to Swab with a selection of artists who explore themes such as social synaesthesia and the fragility of contemporary structures. Works by Moon-gi Gim, Seung-beom Son and Ham Jin focus on the complexity of modern life, addressing issues such as the imperfections in the current social system.

On the other hand, the GALLERY2 gallery, with an extensive history in the South Korean capital, presents artists such as Hyunsun Jeon, Eunsae Lee and Suyeon Kim, who delve into abstraction, geometric shapes and the concepts of presence and absence , creating a visual dialogue between visual arts and social realities.

ooooon (OhOn) gallery (Seül)

'Mite life 2', Eunsae Lee

General program: The promising young people of Palma

The General Program is the backbone of Swab Barcelona, bringing together 33 outstanding galleries from the contemporary scene, both local and international, and offering a broad view of the most relevant creative trends. This national diversity reflects the globalization of art, making it one of the fair's most important programs. Designed to give visibility to promising artists from the contemporary scene, this year includes galleries such as STAIN Projects from Palma de Mallorca, which stands out for its proposal focused on sound and silence with the exhibition 'Silence between sounds', providing an experience introspective and innovative.

This project, directed by Enrique Suasi, includes artists such as Gema Polanco, Adela Angulo and Agustín Esteso, who explore the relationship between silence and the creative act. His works seek a new pictorial language that integrates the pause, creating spaces for reflection and contemplation that break with the usual expectations of the viewer.

'La piscina', Agustín Esteso (2024)

Solo Show by Vila Casas: A bridge between Barcelona and the world

Another outstanding program is the Solo Show by Vila Casas, presented by the Raccoon Projects gallery in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat. This pop-up gallery, directed by curator Margot Cuevas, focuses on the production of site-specific pieces, creations that adapt and dialogue with the space in which they are exhibited.

This program stands out for its ability to encourage artistic research and the production of new works. An example of this is Raccoon Projects, which presents a visual experience that invites visitors to reflect on the relationship between art and space. With newly produced serigraphs by the artist Estanis Comella, this proposal promotes a constant dialogue between the work and the public, creating an interaction that transcends simple contemplation and promotes a deeper and more reflective artistic experience.

'AAN 8', Estanis Comella (2016)

MyFAF: Encouraging intercultural dialogue

The MyFAF program has established itself as an opportunity for emerging galleries looking to make the leap to the international scene. In this edition, we highlight two platforms with a strong desire to promote cultural exchange.

PLATO, a project from Évora , combines traditional influences with the contemporary avant-garde. With artists such as Abel Mota and Teresa Arega, PLATO explores new creative paths, highlighting the importance of innovation in artistic creation.

'Fantasma', Eduardo Antonio (2023)

Emerging program: Tehran

Founded in 2022 in Tehran, Yafteh Gallery has established itself as an emerging space that connects art with other fields of knowledge.

At Swab Barcelona 2024, the gallery presents the RingelReih Collective, who will debut with an impressive work entitled "AAAH". This monumental piece, 24 meters long, is composed of 216 images distributed in six panels. The work invites viewers to join an artistic journey of exploration and expression, while revealing the treasures of his personal collection and archive. "AAAH" is a deep exploration of human expression and its multiple manifestations, offering an insight into the complex processes and methodologies that guide the collective in its creative evolution.

Design: Between art and functionality

For the first time, Swab Barcelona is firmly committed to collectible design, an emerging field that blurs the lines between art and functional design. This program offers a selection of artists who explore the boundaries between these two fields, with a strong emphasis on creativity and innovation.

Studio Pepe Valenti , an artist working from Eindhoven, presents a series of pieces inspired by light and the sea. His creations are not only collectibles, but also works that invite reflection and contemplation, redefining the boundaries between utility and beauty.

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With these proposals, Swab Barcelona 2024 offers an exceptional window into the future of contemporary art, with special emphasis on emerging voices and Asian art, which is gaining a growing prominence on the international scene. The fair is not only an exhibition space, but also a meeting place for collectors, artists and the general public, facilitating a creative dialogue between cultures and perspectives.